Article 3 of the convention, which deals with the prohibition of torture, is extremely important. It provides that nobody shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Ireland is frequently in dire trouble when committees from the Council of Europe on the prevention of cruel and inhumane treatment and torture visit this country and, particularly, the Central Mental Hospital and our prisons. In October 2002 Ireland was heavily criticised for the state of the Central Mental Hospital but people in the hospital will have no remedy with this legislation. What good is financial compensation to them? They are incarcerated in this institution and our mental health laws will do nothing to help them get out. Furthermore, there is nothing in this legislation to insist that the conditions there are improved.